Adventures in Ed Funding

Have you had a chance yet to check out the Budgeting for Educational Equity podcast? We're sharing the latest episode here because it delves into a subject near and dear to anyone interested in California education funding: the Local Control Funding Formula, or LCFF, which was adopted in 2013.The LCFF is regarded by many as the most significant resource equity reform the state has ever enacted. It definitely ushered in a new era of school funding for school districts. But how has the LCFF actually worked? Has it accomplished what it was intended to? And how are some of the inherent tensions between local and state decision making authority, oversight and accountability being navigated? In this episode, series host Jason Willis and special guests explore key elements of the LCFF: Mike Kirst, former State Board of Education President, Professor Emeritus at Stanford University, and chief architect of the LCFF under Gov. Jerry Brown, offers a remarkable glimpse into the development of the formula, including some of the difficult choices, innovative thinking and pragmatic considerations that went into creating the new law.Xilonin Cruz-Gonzalez provides a review of the law, based on her unique perspective both as a locally elected school board member in Azusa USD and as Deputy Director for Californians Together, a statewide group that advocates on behalf of English Learner students.  Xilonin also serves as immediate past president of the California School Boards Association.And Richard De Nava, Assistant Superintendent, Business Services at San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools, shares insights about the policy and practical implications of the LCFF. Richard also serves as president of CASBO. *More resourcesNEW: "What's Next for the LCFF," report by Policy Analysis for California Education (PACE), November 2021NEW: "Targeted K-12 Funding and Student Outcomes," PPIC Policy Brief, October 2021"Why the LCFF? California's Landmark Move to an Equity-Based School Funding Formula," from the Adventures in Ed Funding CASBO podcast, March, 2020. "Here's How LCFF Works," Ed100.org lesson on the Local Control Funding Formula.*Subscribe to the Budgeting for Educational Equity series at:Apple podcasts SpotifyGoogleCASBO podcastsWestEd podcastsMore...Follow the Budgeting for Ed Equity podcast on Twitter at: @budget4edequityBudgeting for Educational Equity is presented by the California Association of School Business Official (CASBO) and WestEd. The series is written and produced by Paul Richman and Jason Willis. Original music, mixing and sound by Tommy Dunbar. John Diaz at WestEd  develops the written briefs that go along with each episode.

We're excited to share with you this first episode of a new limited series podcast presented in collaboration by WestEd and CASBO. It's called Budgeting for Educational Equity.About this new seriesHow can dedicated teams of educators, administrators, school business officials and entire school communities allocate resources to better meet the needs of all their students -- especially at this watershed moment when student needs have never been greater due to the pandemic and an influx of additional federal and state dollars available to support transformative change? That's the story we're here to share.In this first "introductory" episode, host Jason Willis, director of strategic resource planning and implementation for WestEd and a former chief business official in several California school districts, invites guest experts, advocates and school district leaders to share how they think about and define resource equity in education as a way to help us get our "resource equity bearings." Subscribe to the new episode at:Apple podcasts SpotifyGoogleMore... Guests in this episode include:Christopher Edley, Jr., J.D., interim dean, U.C. Berkeley Graduate School of Education; co-founder and president emeritus of The Opportunity Institute; professor and dean emeritus, U.C. Berkeley School of Law; former professor, Harvard Law School; and co-chair, National Commission on K-12 Excellence & EquityMaria Echaveste, J.D., president and CEO, The Opportunity Institute; and former White House deputy chief of staffJayne Christakos, former chief business officer, San Bernardino City Unified School DistrictMarguerite Williams, Ed.D., former assistant superintendent of educational services, Adelanto Elementary School District; and former senior director of equity and diversity, Association of California School AdministratorsAdela Madrigal Jones, superintendent, Sanger Unified School DistrictMichael Kirst, Ph.D., professor emeritus, Graduate School of Education, Stanford University; and past president, California State Board of EducationBudgeting for Educational Equity is presented by the California Association of School Business Official (CASBO), the premier resource for professional development and best practices for more than 24,000 California school business leaders, in partnership with WestEd, a national nonprofit research development and service agency that works to promote excellence and equity in education. Join the conversation on Twitter at @Budget4EdEquity Budgeting for Educational Equity is written and produced by Paul Richman (your trusty guide on "Adventures in Ed Funding") and Jason Willis. 

It has been exactly a year since we launched the Adventures in Ed Funding series. And what a year it was! In addition to our focus on school finance, we also produced additional episodes with timely information and stories to help schools and communities navigate the Covid-19 pandemic. In total, our first season included 36 shows. Here's a quick look back at just a few of the highlights during a difficult time when we've all learned so much.Note: We’re currently taking a break from production. We'll be back soon with an update on some exciting developments for the next season.****For the latest information about education and school business, be sure to check out CASBO Connect, the new podcast series hosted by chief business officials and CASBO leaders Eric Dill and Tina Douglas.****Guests featured in this episode include:Samantha Tran, Managing Director of Education, Children NowEpisode 1, February 7: “California schools: Where the adults aren’t.”Elizabeth Esquivel, Senior Director of Policy and Governance for CASBO Episode 9, March 20: “School Closures Due to Covid-19: What you should know.”Paulo Azevedo, Director of Maintenance. Operations, Transportation and Facilities, San Ysidro School District, San Diego CountyEpisode 16, May 7:  “A Clean Restart for California's Schools.”Amy Rovai Gregory, Principal, Greer Elementary in San Juan USD, Sacramento CountyEpisode 25, July 27: "A Back to School Like None Before."Linda Darling-Hammond, President, California Board of EducationEpisode 26, August 2: “Checking in with Dr. Linda Darling-Hammond.”Diane Deshler, CASBO Vice-President and Chief Business Official, Lafayette School District in Contra Costa CountyEpisode 27, August 9: "Back to School Safety and Planning: A View From the CBO’s Chair."Paul Gothold, San Diego County Superintendent  of SchoolsEpisode 34, November 3: “California Schools Put to the Test.”ABOUT the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BUSINESS OFFICIALSCASBO is the premier resource for professional development and business best practices for California's school business leaders. Be sure to visit CASBO.org for the latest budget news and more information about the many valuable professional development programs. Follow on Twitter at @CASBOABOUT YOUR GUIDEYour series guide Paul Richman is a public education advocate and consultant. Follow on Twitter at @pjr100. Contact us at EdfundingCA@gmail.com

What has it been like for school district human resources departments during these many months of pandemic? What are key challenges faced and lessons learned from recruiting, hiring and negotiating in a virtual environment? In this episode, special guest Norma Gonzales, Assistant Superintendent of HR and Interim Associate Superintendent of Business Services in Washington Unified School District in West Sacramento, helps us explore HR topics essential to school district operations.Human Resources, as Norma says, is all about people. But at a time when we are so often physically distanced, it's more vital than ever to try to carry out the various HR functions in ways that maintain personal connections with those around us.Norma is an HR expert who has served in leadership positions for several school districts and a county office of education during the past two decades. She joined Washington USD in April 2019. The district, which is situated in Yolo County just across the river from the state's capital, has more than 7,000 students spread across elementary, middle and high school campuses and nearly 800 employees.Norma offers insight into:How HR operations in her district have changed since March;The issue staff has been bringing up most often to the HR team;How recruiting and hiring new staff is happening remotely;Early lessons learned from conducting collective bargaining negotiations virtually; andMeeting the potential need for substitute teachers during this time.Plus, Norma shares some tips about virtual interviews for those who may be seeking a new position -- and she describes what she's most looking forward to once we are all past this pandemic.Norma also served as one of the presenters for the recent CASBO Human Resources Summit and discussed tips for conducting investigations during the pandemic. Find more information about that and all of the latest professional development offerings at www.casbo.org/learn.Follow on Twitter: @NormaVGonzales1Contact at: ngonzales@wusd.k12.ca.usABOUT the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BUSINESS OFFICIALSCASBO is the premier resource for professional development and business best practices for California's school business leaders. Be sure to visit CASBO.org for the latest budget news and more information about the many valuable professional development programs, including the new CASBO Work Wise Webinar Series. Follow on Twitter at @CASBOABOUT YOUR GUIDEYour series guide Paul Richman is a public education advocate and consultant. Follow on Twitter at @pjr100. Contact us at edfundingca@gmail.com

The latest state budget outlook. Fiscal implications for schools. Safely reopening campuses. Tips for successful negotiations. These topics and more were on the table when school business leaders and state fiscal experts gathered remotely the week before Thanksgiving for CASBO's CBO Symposium. We can't possibly convey all the insights and information packed into those two days. But in this episode we do bring you highlights, key takeaways and a flavor for this year’s event.The Symposium coincided with release of the State Legislative Analyst Office's latest Budget Fiscal Outlook, which projects a dramatic rebound in overall state revenues in the current budget year, and a $13.7 billion increase in funds available to schools and community colleges. That's cause for much optimism, though budget experts recommend a healthy amount of caution as well, since the outlook in future years remains cloudy with potential deficits. Hear highlights as Symposium presenters including Edgar Cabral, Deputy for K-12 Education at the Legislative Analyst's Office, Michael Fine, CEO of the Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team (FCMAT), Sara Bachez, CASBO Chief Governmental Relations Officer, Kevin Gordon, President of Capitol Advisors Group, John Gray, President of School Services of California, and nationally regarded economist Robert Kleinhenz shed light on key economic indicators, budget projections, payment deferrals, other vital aspects of the state budget deal -- and they explore how school districts might approach planning.We also listen in as CBOs and other school business leaders share how their different districts are navigating the pandemic and related fiscal challenges. For even more information on safely reopening schools, also check out this recent webinar hosted by the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence, COVID-19 Updates and Public Schools: A Conversation with State Public Health Leaders.ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BUSINESS OFFICIALSCASBO is the premier resource for professional development and business best practices for California's school business leaders. Be sure to visit CASBO.org for the latest budget news and more information about the many valuable professional development programs, including the new CASBO Work Wise Webinar Series. Follow on Twitter at @CASBOYour series guide Paul Richman is a public education advocate and consultant. Follow on Twitter at @pjr100. Contact us at edfundingca@gmail.com

Despite the pandemic, California students are beginning to return to campuses for in-person instruction. In this episode, we connect with education leaders in San Diego and Napa counties to explore how schools in their regions are addressing key guidelines for reopening safely, including partnering with their county health departments to test employees for the COVID-19 virus.OUR GUESTS:  Dr. Paul Gothold, San Diego County Superintendent of Schools. Dr. Gothold was appointed County Superintendent in 2017, after four years leading Lynwood USD in Los Angeles County. He has more than 25 years of experience in K-12 education with a focus on building school systems with equity at the core.  Josh Schultz, Deputy Superintendent and Chief Business Official for the Napa County Office of Education. Josh has served in the Napa COE  for the past 12 years. Prior to that he served as a director in the office of research at Sonoma State University. He also taught high school for seven years in Napa County. When and how best to safely reopen our schools for in-person instruction remains top of mind for students, families, educators, communities, and the whole state. It has also become highly politicized. Under California's color-tiered monitoring system, schools in many counties across the state are now eligible to resume in-person classes, as long as they follow guidelines for safety and physical distancing -- and many students are indeed back on campuses. Josh and Paul share challenges to reopening in their counties, strategies being utilized to address them, and protocols in place for when positive cases occur. Also, series host Paul Richman shares a few highlights from recent informational hearings in the state legislature.Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 On Education Finance, Tuesday, October 27th, 2020Senate Joint Hearing Education and Special Committee on Pandemic Emergency Response CommitteesJUST OUT: To help organizations, including schools, increase COVID-19 testing capacity, on Nov. 4 the California Department of Public Health issued a letter to school leaders and a Playbook regarding the new Valencia Laboratory state partnership. MORE RESOURCESCalifornia’s COVID-19 website – COVID-19.ca.govCalifornia Department of Education Coronavirus Response and School Reopening Guidance – CDE.CA.govABOUT the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BUSINESS OFFICIALSCASBO is the premier resource for professional development and business best practices for California's school business leaders. Be sure to visit CASBO.org and check the “Learn” tab for more information about our many valuable professional development programs; @CASBOYour series guide Paul Richman is a public education advocate and consultant; @pjr100. Contact us at edfundingca@gmail.com

How do education stakeholders, political leaders and policy experts view California’s school funding system and what would it take to come together around a comprehensive, coordinated effort to increase funding in California? In this new episode, we explore these and other timely topics with Jason Willis and Carrie Hahnel, two co-authors of “Securing and protecting education funding in California,”  a new study from Policy Analysis in California Education (PACE).The report includes a great primer on California's education finance system -- and it provides an excellent frame for thinking about and addressing California’s school funding challenges. New Resource: CA School Funding Crisis Explained in 12 ChartsWe discuss several of the study’s key findings and recommendations – and we use the study as a springboard to engage Carrie and Jason in some “big-picture” conversation about the future of funding in California. Topics include:The political choices and will that drive funding policiesWhy is a new master plan for education funding needed and what would it do?The value of “cross-segment” planningTransparency and accountability in school funding, and more.ABOUT OUR GUESTSCarrie Hahnel is an independent researcher and consultant and a fellow with The Opportunity Institute. Her work focuses on education policy, including school finance, accountability, and ways in which policies and systems can mitigate racial and socioeconomic inequities. Previously, Carrie served nine years at The Education Trust-West, where she led research and policy work. carrie@theopportunityinstitute.orgJason Willis is Director of Strategy & Performance in the Comprehensive School Assistance Program at WestEd, a nonprofit research, development and service agency, where he oversees and guides performance and accountability practice to support state and school district efforts. Previously, he served as budget director, chief financial officer and assistant superintendent in the Oakland, Stockton and San Jose unified school districts, respectively.  jwillis@wested.orgYour series guide, Paul Richman, is a public education advocate and consultant.  edfundingca@gmail.com; follow at @pjr100Policy Analysis in California Education (PACE) is an independent, nonpartisan research partnership among five CA higher education institutions that seeks to make research accessible and bring evidence to bear on the most critical issues facing our state. MORE RESOURCES"Silent Recession: Why California School Districts are Underwater Despite Increases in Funding," 2018, WestEd Why Investing in Public Education is Crucial to California's COVID-19 Recovery, Episode 15  ABOUT CASBOThe California Association of School Business Officials is the premier resource for professional development and business best practices for California's school business leaders. CASBO is dedicated to promoting excellence and professionalism in all aspects of school business. Learn more at CASBO.org; follow at @CASBO

Economic development and public policy trailblazer Lenny Mendonca -- who most recently served as Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Chief Economic and Business Advisor --  takes us inside the administration’s Office of Business and Economic Development (Go-Biz) and shares insights on a range of vital topics, including: the shape of California’s economic recovery the future of workK-12 and higher education alignmentschool fundingthe importance of leaders making space to openly discuss mental health, and of coursethe impact of the COVID-19 crisis on just about everything.  ABOUT OUR GUESTLenny Mendonca grew up in Turlock in California’s Central Valley. He received his MBA and certificate in public management from the Stanford Graduate School of Business, where he now serves as a lecturer. He holds an AB, magna cum laude, in economics from Harvard College.As a senior partner emeritus with the global consulting firm McKinsey and Company, he has worked with public sector, nonprofit and corporate clients, and developed expertise in areas such as globalization, economic development, regulation and education. Lenny has chaired and served on numerous statewide,  national and regional nonprofit boards and coalitions, such as California Forward, New America, Bay Area Council and Children Now (to name just a few) to help advance ambitious budget, education and governance reforms. Soon after being elected in November 2018, Gavin Newsom appointed Lenny as Chief Economic and Business Advisor to the Governor, a position he served in until April of this year, when he stepped down for health reasons. Lenny lives on the Half Moon Bay coast with his wife, Christine. They raised their two daughters, Allie and Rebecca, there and are the founders and owners of the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company and the Mavericks Beer Company.LEARN MOREGovernor’s Future of Work CommissionRegions Rise Together initiative“I faced a challenge one out of every three people in America has: depression and anxiety,” guest commentary by Lenny Mendonca, July 2020 CalMattersQUOTABLE“California is a state with radically different economies, radically different industries, radically different challenges. It was true before the environment that we're in today and this pandemic accelerates it: We need to have a closer integration between understanding what the future of work looks like, what jobs will be available and how to ensure that everyone in the state has the educational experience to succeed."ABOUT CASBOThe California Association of School Business Officials is the premier resource for professional development and business best practices for California's school business leaders. CASBO is dedicated to promoting excellence and professionalism in all aspects of school business.Follow at @CASBOABOUT YOUR SERIES GUIDE Paul Richman is a public education advocate and consultant. Contact him at edfundingca@gmail.com. Follow at @pjr100

Time is running out for Congress and the President to reach a deal that provides additional coronavirus relief funding for states and schools before the end of the year. In this episode, Kevin Gordon, President of Capitol Advisors Group, offer a timely take on the political dynamics in Washington D.C., and the potential implications for California’s classrooms and state budget. Will additional relief be approved? What key differences between the U.S. Senate, the House and the White House must still be worked out? Congress passed the CARES stimulus package in late March, but since then it has failed to reach an agreement on a much-needed new round of relief. This week the Republican-led U.S. Senate headed back into session to resume deliberations on a new bill. Previously in May, the Democrat-led House of Representatives passed a new $3 trillion relief proposal, the HEROES Act, which has not been taken up in the Senate. Both the House and Senate have been considering committing about $70-$100 billion of a total new package to help stabilize school budgets, with varying requirements.Kevin assesses the budget and policy differences between Senate and House proposals to date – and the political calculations that both Democrats and Republicans are making during this election year. Plus, what is the impact on California’s budget, which is counting on additional federal relief, if no new package is approved?KEY RESOURCEAugust 20 CASBO webinar: “On the Road to the Next Federal Relief Package” with federal advocate Bob Canavan, principal of Federal Management Strategies, in which we discuss proposed funding to support schools; potential policy changes to reopening schools; and the need to stabilize state and local K-12 budgets.MORE ABOUT OUR GUESTWidely viewed among the top education advocates in California, Kevin is the President and a founding partner of Capitol Advisors Group. He formerly served as Executive Director of CASBO, and as the Chief Lobbyist and Assistant Executive Director of the California School Boards Association (CSBA). He also served as Chief of Staff to Congressman Robert T. Matsui and as a legislative advocate for the California Building Industry Association (CBIA). He holds a master's degree in public administration from the University of San Francisco. Kevin also provided a “Brief Hike Through Proposition 98 and School Funding History in California” on Episode 3 of our podcast series.ABOUT CASBOThe California Association of School Business Officials is the premier resource for professional development and business best practices for California's school business leaders. CASBO is dedicated to promoting excellence and professionalism in all aspects of school business.Follow at @CASBOABOUT YOUR SERIES GUIDE Paul Richman is a public education advocate and consultant. Contact him at edfundingca@gmail.com. Follow at @pjr100

On the last night of August, the California State Legislature wrapped up its 2019-2020 legislative session in a flurry. Many bills were passed and sent to the Governor, but several difficult issues were left unresolved. In this episode, CASBO’s dynamic team of advocates Sara Bachez and Elizabeth Esquivel share highlights. What were some of the legislature’s final actions (or inactions)? What are potential education budget and fiscal implications? And what is a frenzied last night of session in Sacramento really like, especially during this time of physical distancing?Plus, Palm Springs USD Nutrition Services Director Stephanie Bruce joins us again to describe some recent good news out of Washington D.C. related to school meals.KEY RESOURCESFor details about education and budget bills that were (or were not) passed out of the legislature, read CASBO's "End of the 2019-20 Legislative Session NewsBreak." This NewsBreak also includes details about Gov. Newsom's new  “Blueprint for a Safer Economy” released on Aug. 28. Additional information about budget and finance bills discussed on this episode:SB 115 -- Makes technical amendments to K-12 education and early education associated with the Budget Act of 2020.SB 820 -- Makes clarifying changes to education programs adopted as part of the Budget Act of 2020. These changes are described in more detail in the CASBO Newsbreak: New Education Budget Changes are Released in SB 820"Legislature fixes funding problem for growing districts and some charter schools," Sept. 2 EdSource article by John Fensterwald"USDA Extends Free Meals for Kids Through Dec. 31, 2020" press release from USDAOUR GUESTS:Sara Bachez, CASBO Chief Government Relations Officer Elizabeth Esquivel, CASBO Senior Director of Policy and GovernanceStephanie Bruce, Nutrition Services Director, Palm Springs USD. Learn more about Stephanie on our March episode, "The Meals Must Go On"Plus a cameo appearance by Jeff Vaca, Chief Governmental Relations Officer, Riverside County Office of EducationABOUT CASBOThe California Association of School Business Officialsis the premier resource for professional development and business best practices for California's school business leaders. Follow at @CASBO. YOUR SERIES GUIDEPaul Richman is a public education advocate and consultant. edfundingca@gmail.com and @pjr100

Veteran local school board member Xilonin Cruz-Gonzalez helps us explore the education landscape during and after COVID-19 from a local governance perspective. What has worked well? What big challenges remain? How are local school boards navigating safety and instructional guidelines and finding new ways to engage their communities in a physical-distance environment? Plus, given the natural push and pull that exists between local and state decision-making authority, we pose the question: Has California been striking the right balance during this crisis to best meet the needs of our students and communities? Recently on the podcast we’ve highlighted important lessons learned by students, teachers, superintendents, chief business officials, state leaders and more. Xilonin, who also serves as President of the California School Boards Association, adds her insight from the local governing board perspective. She offers cautious optimism that, despite the current moment, California can ultimately achieve full and fair school funding for students. Xilonin also emphasizes the importance for boards of transparency, constant and clear communication and involving all stakeholders – plus, making decisions using an equity frame. ABOUT OUR GUESTXilonin Cruz-Gonzalez has served as a school board member since 2001 in Azusa USD in Los Angeles County. She currently serves as CSBA President and has served as past president of the California Latino School Boards Association. In addition, she is the Deputy Director for Californians Together, a statewide coalition focused on the goal of better educating California’s 1.1 million English Learners by improving schools and promoting equitable educational policy. Xilonin is proud to be both a fifth-generation Azusa resident and the daughter of a Mexican immigrant. Read more about Xilonin in this interview. MORE RESOURCESCASBO webinars and resources related to COVID-19Other Adventures in Ed Funding episodes:Back to School Planning: A View From the CBO’s ChairChecking In with State Board President Linda Darling HammondA Student, Teacher and Principal Reflect on Going Back to SchoolCDPH Re-Opening In-Person Learning Framework, July“Unprecedented times call for sharing our best work," CSBA blog article by Xilonin Cruz-GonzalezCoronavirus Response and School Reopening Guidance website, CDECSBA Distance Learning and Reopening Schools webinars: medium and large districts and small districts and county officesABOUT CASBOThe California Association of School Business Officials is the premier resource for professional development and business best practices for California's school business leaders. Follow at @CASBO. About your series guide Paul Richman is a public education advocate and consultant. Share your feedback at edfundingca@gmail.com. Follow at @pj

As California school districts work to safely reopen schools during COVID-19, the alarming specter of costly litigation looms, even as districts follow all state and local health and safety guidelines. In this episode, Santa Clara USD Chief Business Official Eric Dill helps us wade through the murky liability waters brought on by the pandemic. We explore some basics about school district insurance and risk management, and the implications for students, educators and taxpayers of potential COVID-19 litigation. Plus, we'll hear how Assembly Bill 1384, introduced by Assembly Education Committee Chair Patrick O'Donnell, could provide much-needed, temporary legal protection for school districts during this most perilous time. It's a matter of urgency, Eric explains, for legislators to act on AB 1384 before the legislative session ends. "In public education, insurance dollars are public dollars. That same LCFF funding that goes to school districts to hire teachers, buy mobile devices, buy textbooks -- it's the same funding that we have to carve out for insurance," Eric says. "When our losses go up, our premiums go up, and that means fewer dollars are left for our core mission of preparing students for college, careers and the community. This is why everyone needs to be concerned when we are exposed to liability for doing what is a constitutional requirement."MORE INFO and VALUABLE RESOURCESReopening California's Schools: A SISC and Kern CSS Discussion on Liability Issues to Consider, CASBO Summer Series WebinarCoalition Letter from 230-plus organizations in Support of AB 1384Letter signed by 40+ legislators urging a hearing for AB 1384COVID-19 lawsuits: a school district worry, EdSource podcast episodeCalifornia Department of Public Health COVID-19 Industry Guidance: Schools and School-Based Programs, June 5, 2020ABOUT OUR GUESTEric Dill is the Chief Business Official in Santa Clara USD; he'll begin a new role as CBO at Santa Clara COE next month. Previously Eric served for more than 16 years in San Dieguito Union HSD in several positions, including superintendent, associate superintendent of business services, director of risk management and as a loss control analyst. He began his career in private sector risk management. He is a proud graduate of San Diego State University. He also serves on the CASBO Board of Directors. Learn more about Eric in the CASBO Career Chronicle.ABOUT CASBOThe California Association of School Business Officialsis the premier resource for professional development and business best practices for California's school business leaders. Follow at @CASBO. About your series guide Paul Richman is a public education advocate and consultant. Share your feedback at edfundingca@gmail.com. Follow at @pjr100

What are some of the vital operational elements that school business leaders must keep moving forward and aligned as their districts implement school safety and back to school plans? In this episode, Lafayette School District Chief Business Official and CASBO Vice President Diane Deshler helps us explore the ongoing work of a school business office during these days of pandemic and economic crisis. How has her school district approached planning and navigated changing circumstances? What types of health and safety protocols are being put in place and what guidance is available if a new outbreak occurs? What are some implications for human resources and collective bargaining? And what keeps CBOs like Diane awake at night? This insightful journey will help illuminate these and other timely topics. Plus, we'll discuss new Learning Loss and Mitigation Funds and learn about Diane's somewhat unusual (and tasty) pathway into public education and becoming a CBO. KEY RESOURCE MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:Reopening California's Schools: A FCMAT Discussion on Understanding & Planning for Federal Funding -- CASBO Webinar with Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team CEO Michael FineOTHER VALUABLE LINKS:Reopening California's Schools: A Discussion on Political Insights for 2020-21 -- Webinar with CASBO's Governmental Relations team, Sara Bachez and Elizabeth EsquivelCalifornia Department of Education's Coronavirus Response and School Reopening Guidance webpageABOUT OUR GUESTDiane Deshler is the Chief Business Official (CBO) at Lafayette School District, which serves about 3,500 Kindergarten through eighth-grade students in Contra Costa County in Northern California. She also serves as CASBO Vice President and has been a member of CASBO for 24 years. She is a graduate of the University of California, San Diego. Following college and working at a publishing company, Diane changed her career focus and attended professional chef school in California and Paris, France. Diane worked at Chez Panisse in Berkeley as the Pastry Chef, and at George Lucas’ Skywalker Ranch in Marin County as Head Chef. Her path to serving students started with her interest in student nutrition and school lunch. From working in school lunch to a variety of school business areas, Diane graduated from the CASBO/FCMAT CBO Mentor Program and is in her 6th year as a school district CBO. Diane grew up in the Bay Area. She currently lives in the East Bay and has two children in college; both will attend classes through distance learning as they begin the new school year. If Diane had the opportunity for vacation, she would be spending her free time in the mountains or at the beach with her family.ABOUT CASBOThe California Association of School Business Officials is the premier resource for professional development and business best practices for California's school business leaders. Follow at @CASBO. Discover the many critical resources, advocacy updates and professional development opportunities at www.casbo.org.About your series guide Paul Richman is a public education advocate and consultant. Share your feedback at edfundingca@gmail.com. Follow at @pjr100 

She serves as President of the California State Board of Education, President and CEO of the Learning Policy Institute, and is one of the nation’s leading education researchers...In this episode Dr. Linda Darling Hammond shares what’s on her mind as plans for the new school year continue to take shape. How is distance learning going? What have other countries done to re-open their campuses safely and what else should our federal government do to support efforts here? Plus, we explore the role everyone in schools plays in providing social-emotional supports to students; key objectives for the new Learning Continuity and Attendance Plans that districts must adopt before October – and fact-checking presidential tweets about education.With back to school season upon us, local and state leaders are working tirelessly to ensure as Gov. Newsom has said, “learning is non-negotiable” while prioritizing the health and safety of students and staff during this time of COVID-19.In a recent Forbes article, “The Urgency of Reopening Schools Safely,” Linda discussed what other countries are doing to re-open their school campuses. She makes the compelling case that “where these re-openings have succeeded, governments have been responsive to addressing the significant financial needs.” Yet, with nearly $2.8 trillion in federal aid dedicated to the recovery so far in the U.S., less than half of one percent of the total funding has been allocated specifically for K-12 education. MORE RESOURCESReopening California's Schools: A Discussion on Political Insights for 2020-21, CASBO webinarReopening California's Schools: A FCMAT Discussion on Understanding & Planning for Federal Funding, CASBO WebinarCDE's Coronavirus Response and School Reopening Guidance webpageABOUT OUR GUESTDr. Linda Darling Hammond was appointed by Gov. Newsom to the State Board of Education in February 2019, and currently serves as President. She is President and CEO of the Learning Policy Institute (LPI), an organization that conducts and communicates independent, high-quality research to improve educational policy and practice. Linda is also the Charles E. Ducommun Professor of Education Emeritus at Stanford University where she founded the Stanford Center for Opportunity Policy in Education and served as the faculty sponsor of the Stanford Teacher Education Program. She is past president of the American Educational Research Association and recipient of its awards for Distinguished Contributions to Research, Lifetime Achievement, and Research-to-Policy. Full bio here.ABOUT CASBOThe California Association of School Business Officials is the premier resource for professional development and business best practices for California's school business leaders. Follow at @CASBOAbout your series guide Paul Richman is a public education advocate and consultant. Contact him at edfundingca@gmail.com. Follow at @p

With so much information, guidance and politics swirling about how the new school year will begin due to COVID-19, it can feel stressful, overwhelming or in the words of one district superintendent, as if we are often “scrambling remotely.” In this episode, we invite you to – breathe in deeply and exhale slowly – as we "recenter" ourselves and connect with three truly inspiring individuals: a student, teacher and principal. Each shares unique and powerful experiences about what they are learning during the crisis and how can we build on it. Our guests also help explore how to stay focused on what matters most as this unique back to school season gets underway. MEET OUR SPECIAL GUESTSRosie Reid, National board-certified English and English language development teacher at Ygnacio High School in Mt. Diablo USD and 2019 California Teacher of the Year -- reidr@mdusd.org, @msreidenglish;Amy Rovai Gregory, Principal at Greer Elementary School in San Juan USD -- arovai@sanjuan.edu; and Angel, a high school student in Northern CaliforniaWatch more about Rosie Reid on this episode of the public TV series Inside California Education.About CASBOThe California Association of School Business Officials (CASBO) is the premier resource for professional development and business best practices for California's school business leaders. CASBO is dedicated to promoting excellence and professionalism in all aspects of school business. Founded in 1928, CASBO serves more than 23,000 members by providing certifications and training, promoting business best practices and creating opportunities for professional collaboration. CASBO members represent every facet of school business management and operations. The association offers public school leaders an entire career's worth of growth opportunities. Follow at @CASBO. About your series guide Paul Richman is a public education advocate and consultant.  Follow him at @pjr100.We value your feedback! Share your comments and ideas at edfundingca@gmail.com. 

Proposition 15 on the November 3, 2020 statewide ballot would generate billions in new funding for schools and other local services by changing the way commercial and industrial property taxes are assessed. How would Proposition 15 work? And how is the campaign shaping up?In this episode, guests David Goldberg, Vice-President of the 310,000-member California Teachers Association (CTA); Saa’un Bell, Strategy Director for Californians for Justice; and Tim Gage, longtime fiscal policy expert and former director of the State Department of Finance take us on a journey into the heart of Schools and Communities First.A broad-based coalition of organizations have been driving this effort. Proponents say the initiative would revise Proposition 13 (passed in 1978) to require larger, older corporate and commercial property owners to pay their fair share in property taxes. When fully implemented, the measure would generate about $11.5 billion in new revenues for education and community services, with public schools receiving about 40 percent of those new dollars. Throughout our series, we’ve examined how California, which once ranked among the top states in per-student funding prior to Proposition 13, slid into a decades-long school funding decline. We repeatedly pose the question: What will it take for California to get back among the top-spending states, so we can provide the level of resources that research shows all students need to succeed? Proposition 15 may be a critical component of that answer.ABOUT OUR GUESTSAn educator for more than 20 years, CTA Vice President David B. Goldberg has spent most of his career as a bilingual teacher at Murchison Elementary in the Los Angeles USD. In addition to serving two terms on the CTA Board, he also served as treasurer of the United Teachers of Los Angeles (UTLA) and was the youngest executive officer to ever hold office in that union. As a former English Language Learner student from Long Beach USD and first generation college graduate, Saa’un Bell is committed to building a public education infrastructure where all students have opportunities to fulfill their highest aspirations. Saa’un joined CFJ in 2009; currently, she oversees all communications & narrative strategy for regional and statewide campaigns. Listen to more from Saa'un about LCFF.Principal and co-founder of Blue Sky Consulting, Tim Gage is a highly regarded public servant, having spent over 24 years as a top fiscal advisor in both houses of the California Legislature and as the Director of the California Department of Finance from 1999-2003. He specializes in state-local relations and tax policy. About CASBOThe California Association of School Business Officials (CASBO) is the premier resource for professional development and business best practices for California's school business leaders. Follow at @CASBO. About your series guide Paul Richman is a public education advocate and consultant. Contact him at edfundingca@gmail.com. We value your feedback! Follow at @pjr100

The new state budget agreement will include up to $11.1 billion in K-12 payment "deferrals." But what exactly are deferrals? How do they help the state balance its budget? And what are the implications for local school districts?In this special “explainer” episode, guest Matt Phillips, director of management consulting services at School Services of California, is back to describe everything you need to know about this highly significant but seldom understood fiscal mechanism. Matt provides clear examples that will help finance-minded and non-finance-minded folks alike gain a solid grasp of the ins and outs of payment deferrals, including how they differ from budget cuts. Deferrals, Matt says, are the "lesser of two evils," but they pose their own significant complications for school districts.Given the pending adoption of a new California State Budget, this is an episode you won’t want to postpone listening to.In this episode, you'll learn:What is a payment deferral?How do deferrals help the state to balance its budget? Are deferrals similar to budget cuts?What are the implications of deferrals for school districts?Why do school districts need to pay such close attention to their "cash positions"?What options do school districts have to mitigate the impact of deferrals?Latest state budget information:CASBO Newsbreak: "Governor Newsom and Legislature Reach Budget Agreement""In California budget deal, no cuts for K-12 but billions in pate payments to schools" by John Fensterwald in EdSource, June 23, 2020About Our GuestMatt Phillips, CPA, serves as Director of Management Consulting Services at School Services. In this role, he provides support to school districts for fiscal-related matters including budget reviews, salary schedule analyses, organizational reviews, and negotiations. He also presents workshops across the state on a variety of topics including the Local Control and Accountability Plan, collective bargaining, district budgeting, and auditing. His background as a Certified Public Accountant, experience working in a school district, and completion of the Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team Chief Business Official (CBO) Mentor Program that resulted in the CASBO CBO certificate provide the foundation for these areas. Matt graduated from California State University, Chico, with a degree in business administration with emphasis in accounting.About CASBOThe California Association of School Business Officials (CASBO) is the premier resource for professional development and business best practices for California's school business leaders. Follow at @CASBO and @CASBOGRAbout your series guide Paul Richman is a public education advocate and consultant. Contact him at edfundingca@gmail.com. We value your feedback! Follow him at @pjr100

When schools start up again, we do not have to go back to business as usual in our educational system. Instead, the disruption caused by COVID-19 provides an opportunity for us all to see, engage and act differently to produce success for all students in the system, not just some. That's the call to action brought forward in this episode by our special guest Hugh Vasquez, senior associate with the National Equity Project. He says, "The crucial question confronting us at the moment, is not can we prepare to come back differently, but will we?"Hugh illuminates key points from his recent article, “What If We…Don’t Return To Business As Usual,” including strategies for encouraging collaborative inquiry across the district, and practical tips for pumping up those strategic equity leadership muscles. Who or what exactly is the “system” and how does it perpetuate inequities among students? Can the disturbance caused by COVID-19 actually push us to innovate and make change?  And what are the biggest challenges to bringing about the monumental culture shift to a more equitable system? We also explore more deeply what business NOT as usual might look like in a classroom or in a district, including a shift to organizing around how students engage and project based learning.About Our GuestHugh Vasquez joined the National Equity Project as a Senior Associate in 2010 with responsibility for developing and expanding their Leading for Equity projects. He works with a range of school district and nonprofit partners to plan and implement racial equity initiatives. Previously, Hugh served as Executive Director of the San Francisco Education Fund, a non-profit working to bring educational equity to public schools. Hugh is also a partner with the Center for Diversity Leadership and the founder of the Todos Institute in Oakland, whose mission is to help individuals and groups heal from the effects of oppression, build cross-cultural alliances, and create environments where youths and adults from all cultures are honored, valued, and respected. Hugh has worked with hundreds of organizations to establish diversity initiatives and has provided training to thousands of individuals. He is a presenter with Speak Out, a national organization providing top speakers on social justice topics, and a primary cast member in the award-winning film The Color of Fear. He has co-authored the books No Boundaries: Unlearning Oppression and Building Multicultural Alliances and Making Allies Making Friends: A Curriculum For Middle Schools, as well as published various articles on strengthening cultural roots and eliminating privileged systems. Hugh has a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. hvasquez@nationalequityproject.org; @hughjvasquez.About CASBOThe California Association of School Business Officials (CASBO) is the premier resource for professional development and business best practices for California's school business leaders. Follow at @CASBO and @CASBOGRAbout your series guide Paul Richman is a public education advocate and consultant. Contact him at edfundingca@gmail.com. We value your feedback! Follow him at @pjr100

What will school bus service look like when schools re-open? What will it take to get those yellow buses we all miss back on the roads?In this episode, two California school transportation experts lead us on an adventure into “Bus World.” We explore how school districts are planning to meet the many challenges posed by COVID-19 so that California students can be safely transported to and from their school campuses.  Guests Matt Sanchez, Director of Transportation for Elk Grove USD and Kevin Sellstrom, Transportation Specialist in the El Dorado Union High School District, illuminate key issues and considerations for school communities, including: How new safety guidelines could dramatically impact bus service and routes Options and strategies being considered to re-start bus servicePrioritizing the needs of those who depend most on busesScheduling and routing in a time of uncertaintyKeeping buses clean and disinfectedCollaborating with all departmentsSpecial challenges for rural communities, andNavigating the difficult funding crossroads (trying to do more with less).Bus drivers are the most visible and integral part of the school transportation team. We discuss whether the role of drivers will change during the pandemic. Plus, many districts in the state and nation face a serious school bus driver shortage. Matt describes the training and support drivers may need to help their students adjust to changes in school bus services -- and he offers an impromptu call to those who may be interested in a rewarding career as a school bus driver.We also explore essential operations that school district transportation departments have carried out during the time of campus closures, including the vital role of mechanics. All along the route, Matt reminds us to embrace a mindset of flexibility during these difficult and uncertain times. We also include a brief "explainer" to help you gain a better understanding about key elements of California's school bus system, including what school districts are required to provide for students.Coronavirus Response and School Reopening Guidance from California Department of EducationABOUT OUR GUESTSMatt Sanchez has led the Elk Grove USD transportation department since 2018; he also served in the district previously between 1988-2002. In addition, he served as a Transportation Consultant for the California Department of Education for 11 years, and also as Director of Transportation for Rocklin USD. Matt is currently the CASBO State Chair for Transportation, and also serves on the Communications, Advocacy and Public Relations Subcommittee for STARTS, the Student Transportation Aligned for Return to School, which includes collaboration between the National Association for Pupil Transportation, National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services and the National School Transportation Association. He holds a bachelor’s degree in communication studies with a minor in business form CSU Sacramento. (mmsanche@egusd.net)Kevin Sellstrom began his career in education as a special education instructional assistant. He has also served as a bus driver, scheduling technician, MOT supervisor and transportation specialist in multiple California School districts. (ksellstrom@eduhsd.k12.ca.us)About CASBOThe California Association of School Business Officials (CASBO) is the premier resource for professional development and business best practices for California's school business leaders. About your series guide Paul Richman is a public education advocate and consultant. Contact him at edfundingca@gmail.com. We value your feedback!  

California educators, school leaders and communities have never faced a moment with so many intersecting crises: pandemic, economic, educational, civic. While schools just wrapped up the 2019-20 year, the push is on to determine how to ready schools for the coming year. It's no easy task. Guest Daryl Camp, Superintendent of San Lorenzo USD in Alameda County and President of the California Association of African-American Superintendents and Administrators (CAAASA), helps us continue to explore the complex decisions and challenges facing California's school communities: How can districts provide quality educational experiences for students within the parameters of COVID-19 health and safety precautions? And how to pay for it when state policymakers are contemplating severe budget cuts to a school system that is already chronically underfunded?Dr. Camp describes how planning conversations in best district have centered on three principles: Student and staff safety; student learning; and equity. He further discusses difficult trade-offs with different approaches to restarting schools. To support school districts, Dr. Camp advocates for greater flexibility, changes to certain ways that schools are funded (such as shifting away from funding based on attendance to funding based on enrollment); more clear guidelines from the state and public health officials about safety; and more guidance regarding learning expectations in the context of the extra safety precautions. We also discuss Dr. Camp’s recent testimony to the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance and why the connection between legislators and educators needs to be strengthened. MORE ABOUT OUR GUESTDr. Daryl F. Camp began serving as the superintendent of the San Lorenzo USD in 2019. Previously, he served for seven years as the superintendent of the Riverbank USD. He earned his bachelor’s degree at Morehouse College, his master’s degree at CSU Hayward, and his doctorate degree in educational leadership at CSU Sacramento.VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR RE-OPENING SCHOOLSAdvancing Equity in an Era of Crisis, Professional Learning Webinars from CAAASACalifornia Department of Education COVID-19 Resource pageRecovering and Improving Stronger, Memo from CCEEFinal Report by the ACSA School Reopening Planning GroupLearning loss and achievement gaps top discussion on school reopening article in EdSourceCASBO COVID-19 Resources Education Coalition Statement on May Revision to the BudgetAssembly Budget Subcommittee #2 on Education Finance, April 28 hearing videoAbout CASBOThe California Association of School Business Officials (CASBO) is the premier resource for professional development and business best practices for California's school business leaders. About your series guide Paul Richman is a public education advocate and consultant. Contact him at edfundingca@gmail.com. We value your feedback and ideas!